Michigan’s defense got the best of the ‘Cats.
The Cardiac ‘Cats couldn’t find the adrenaline they needed today.
In a grey midday final in College Park, No. 1 Northwestern (19-1, 9-1 B1G) lost to No. 3 Michigan (15-4, 7-3 B1G) 1-0, falling short of the Big Ten Tournament title. Senior midfielder Alana Richardson scored Michigan’s only goal in the third quarter, which proved to be the game-winner. Both Annabel Skubisz and Hala Silverstein recorded four saves for their teams.
The loss was Northwestern’s first of the season. In addition, it was also the team’s first Big Ten loss since 2022, when it also lost to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament title game.
Defense ruled the first six minutes of action, as neither team got a shot off. With 8:44 remaining, the Wolverines drew their first penalty corner, but graduate midfielder Maddie Zimmer blocked the shot with ease. Just a few seconds later, graduate goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz swatted a shot away with her left-hand guard.
With six to go in the quarter, sophomore forward Ashley Sessa probed the defense in the circle and set up graduate midfielder Chloe Relford, who could not get her shot past goalkeeper Hala Silverstein. Three minutes later, the ‘Cats drew a penalty stroke after Olivia Bent-Cole got hacked in the circle. However, Silverstein read Sessa’s shot the whole way as she dove for the deflection. NU drew its second corner with less than 90 seconds on the clock, but neither Zimmer nor Sessa could cage their opportunities to end the quarter.
The second quarter saw a similar script, as both teams went without a shot for the first seven minutes of action. With 7:51 left, the Wolverines drew their third corner, but Skubisz deflected graduate midfielder Erin Reilly’s shot with her foot as it sailed above the net. Two minutes later, Michigan earned yet another chance which Skubisz kicked away with ease.
With just over two minutes to go in the half, sophomore back Ilse Tromp flicked an aerial pass to a streaking Zimmer, but her shot hit the right post. The ‘Cats then received a huge opportunity when they drew their second corner of the day with 37 seconds remaining. Tromp fired her signature drag flick towards the post, but graduate midfielder Katie Jones couldn’t handle the screaming pass to end the half.
The ‘Cats closed the first 30 minutes of action having taken just one shot on goal, while the Wolverines had two. Both teams were equally aggressive with 17 fouls each, but Michigan had the upper hand with four corners compared to NU’s two. Redshirt junior Claire Taylor was shown a green card in the final minute, but the ‘Cats couldn’t capitalize on their 11-on-10 advantage.
NU put the pressure on defense to start the second half. However, that aggression came at a cost. After Zimmer was shown a green card, the Wolverines capitalized on that woman-up opportunity and attacked the circle. As she stumbled to the turf, Richardson snuck a shot past Skubisz to put Michigan up 1-0.
While Zimmer was still out, the relentless Wolverines drew their fifth penalty corner of the game, but Skubisz came back strong with a diving stop on Reilly’s shot. With three minutes left, the All-American goalie dropped to her knees and saved a shot from sophomore midfielder Natalie Millman with her shoulder.
The ‘Cats finally drew their third corner of the game with less than two minutes to go, but redshirt junior Abby Tamer got low to deflect junior midfielder Greta Hinke’s shot. Graduate midfielder Lauren Wadas swung off the deflection, but it sailed wide of the left post.
To start the final frame of action, Bent-Cole stripped the ball and streaked down the field for a baseline look, but she couldn’t find the cage. Soon after, the ‘Cats drew a penalty corner that Tromp fired off Silverstein’s leg guard. Tromp got another opportunity on NU’s fifth corner, but Tamer put her body on the line to block the shot.
Zimmer started an encouraging fastbreak with 8:40 to go, but Michigan’s defense held strong in the circle. A few minutes later, Jones stormed up the left baseline, but her shot rolled wide as she careened into Silverstein. With just over three minutes left, head coach Tracey Fuchs pulled Skubisz for an extra attacker.
With exactly 60 seconds remaining, the ‘Cats drew a crucial penalty corner with the chance to knot the game at one apiece. Wadas got a chance to tie it up, but she couldn’t cage the shot. Just seconds later, senior midfielder Regan Cornelius fired a shot towards the far post that Silverstein just got a piece of. The Wolverines ran the remaining 20 seconds off the clock to capture the Big Ten tournament title.
Despite the loss, the ‘Cats are in good position entering the NCAA tournament. NU will find out its seed for this year’s championship during the selection show tonight at 9 p.m. CT. The selection show will be broadcast on NCAA.com.